On your bike in Tøndermarsken
2 nights - Explore the Wadden Sea National Park and experience countryside unlike that found anywhere else in Denmark. In the marshes of Tøndermarsken, which make up the southernmost part of the Wadden Sea National Park, you get really close to the fantastic birdlife and wildlife.
On this trip you can combine great experiences in the attractive surroundings with attractions in the delightful towns that you visit on the way. You spend the night in Tønder, but on the cycle route itself you visit places like Møgeltønder, which is home to the picturesque street of Slotsgaden and Schackenborg Castle, and Højer, where you find several galleries and skilled artisans that are all well worth a visit. Remember to take your passport with you, as there’s an option of crossing the border into Germany.
Itinerary:
NOTE: Bikerental not included, bring your own.
Day 1:
Arrival at Hostrups Hotel in Tønder, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights. Hostrups Hotel in Tønder is located in the heart of the city with a fantastic view over Mølledammen.
If you’re interested in history, we recommend that you jump on your bike and ride about 4 km out of the town to the woods at Soldaterskoven. Here you find the Zeppelin and Garrison Museum Tønder and the hangar from the Zeppelin base that the Germans constructed here during the First World War.
If you prefer art and culture, we recommend that you visit the Art Museum in Tønder and the adjacent former water tower, where you’ll find chairs designed by fellow-townsman Hans J. Wegner, who chose the chairs to be exhibited in the water tower himself. The chairs aren’t just museum pieces; you’re welcome to try sitting in them.
For dinner there are many options. Book a table in the restaurant at Hostrups Hotel or at one of the other restaurants in town.
Day 2:
There is breakfast and packed lunch to go from the hotel.
The day’s ride is a panorama route – “Den Kongelige Marskrute” (The Royal Marsh Route) – that takes in both the marshes and royal attractions. The trip has a length of around 41 km. and begins and ends in Tønder. Most of the route is very flat, which means that it can be ridden by anyone, big or small. You’ll be cycling in both Denmark and Germany, and you’ll gain an insight into the lives of the hardworking farmers in the marshes and of the impressive royal palace at Schackenborg. If you don’t want to cross the border into Germany, you can head north from Rudbøl and follow West Coast Cycle Route N1 to Højer. If you choose this option, however, you’ll miss out on the ride through the southernmost part of Tøndermarsken, where you can get really close to the rich birdlife and other wildlife.
When in Højer, we can warmly recommend a visit to Højer Mølle, which is a Dutch windmill from 1857. The cap is shaped like an inverted boat, which is characteristic for windmills situated along the coast of West Schleswig. With a height of 22 metres, Højer Mølle is one of the tallest Dutch mills in Northern Europe. From Højer, the route returns to Tønder via Møgeltønder. If you didn’t manage to see Schackenborg Castle in the morning, we recommend visiting the castle before cycling back to Tønder.
Dinner on your own.
Day 3:
Breakfast, check-out and departure
If you’re up for another cycling trip, we recommend that you ride to the island of Rømø and cycle the panorama route known as “Kommandøren og Kaskelotten” (The Captain and the Sperm Whale). The route is 29 km long and starts and finishes in Havneby. The route takes you past many of Rømø’s popular attractions, as well as running across uneven terrain. The route can be completed by everyone, however, regardless of your bike, age or level of fitness.
If you don’t feel like a cycle ride, we recommend that you visit Marsk Tower before heading home.
Contents of the package:
2 nights at Hostrups Hotel
2 x breakfast
1 x lunch to go
Guidebook to the West Coast Cycle Route